A fat chestnut is a forager's delight. So seductive in its curved mahogany shell that it is impossible to leave on the ground. And should you find one that is hiding, it can be prised out of its horrible prickly case using the gentle Wellington boot, so that very soon your pockets will be full. Now the new discovery I’ve made is that chestnuts, as well as being delicious, are good for you. Rich in omega-3, ...

Does an attic full of surprises sound more enticing than a car loaded up with junk?  The French have taken the car boot sale to their hearts and invented the vide grenier (empty the attic).  Not surprisingly, here in the south-west at least, they’ve also added a special culinary temptation all of their own. From spring to autumn the broke, the bored and the bavard (chatty) lay out their unwanted possessions ...